Thoroughbred

An assessment of the breeding statistics of Bold Ruckus was stated simply by one horseman who said, “No stallion that spent his entire sire career in Canada has had so much impact on Canadian racing. He was an international ambassador for our breeding industry.”

If a breeder was seeking to breed speed into his broodmare,the son of Boldnesian-Raise a Ruckus, by Raise A Native, was the answer. He was a sire of champion sprinters, track record holders, stake producing sires and several million-dollar winners. From the time he retired from the racetrack in 1980, until his death at age 20 in 1996, he was Canada’s leading sire ten times, and was second only to Vice Regent on the all-time leading Canadian sire’s list.

A Florida-bred colt, Bold Ruckus was purchased by Gerald E. Going of Wetaskiwin, Alta., for $36,000 at the 1977 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Summer yearling sale and handed over to trainer J.C. (Jerry) Meyer. His speed was evident at age two when he set a course record for five furlongs on the turf at Woodbine. In 1979 he became a stakes winner, taking the Chief Pennekeck at the Meadowlands, and the Select Handicap at Monmouth, both at six furlongs. He tried the mile and an eighth Ohio Derby at Thistletown, finishing second to Smarten. In 24 career starts, he had eight wins and five seconds and two thirds.

Bold Ruckus’s breeding career took off when he was syndicated to stand at Park Stud in Orangeville, Ont. It wasn’t long before breeders eagerly sought a service for their mares. In 1984 he made his debut on the sire’s list as the second-leading freshman sire in North America. His reputation grew steadily thereafter as his sons and daughters excelled across the continent. Beau Genius, a foal of 1985, earned over $1 million with wins in the Gr.1 Philip Iselin H., the Gr.2 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth H., and the Autumn Stakes at Woodbine.

His other million-dollar winners were Kiridashi, Bold Ruritana and Krz Ruckus. Bold Ruritana was twice champion grass mare and King Ruckus and King Corrie were both also two-time Sovereign Award winners. Gal in a Ruckus won the Kentucky Oaks while John the Magician captured the Breeders’ Stakes. Among his track record setters were Bold Revenue, Bold Ruritana, Demaloot Demashoot, Double Shift, Fina Dur, Go Scotty, Katahaula County, Keen Runner,Ketchem, Kiridashi and Petite Duchess.

Carrying on Bold Ruckus’s bloodlines at stud are Bold Executive, Bold N Flashy, Beau Genius, Kiridashi, Highland Ruckus, Bold Revenue and Demaloot Demashoot. When hedied his number of stakes winners were 47 and his progeny had earned in excess of $28 million.